Editor’s Note
This article details the 2016 auction of Joan Rivers’s personal jewelry collection, which realized nearly $2.5 million. It highlights how her extravagant style was an integral part of her public persona.
Over her celebrated career, Joan Rivers made fashion part of her branding. She was known for wearing extravagant, glamorous ensembles and was the owner of several dazzling jewelry pieces. Following her death in 2014, jewelry from her collection was auctioned off by Christie’s in 2016. The final sale for the public and online auctions was a total of $2,495,250, with 281 out of a total of 294 items sold.
During her life, Rivers was credited with transforming celebrity fashion commentary. She also hosted “Fashion Police” from 2010 to 2014 and designed her own jewelry and apparel lines for QVC.
Joan Rivers’ black diamond and diamond ring is set with an oval rose-cut black diamond within a black diamond and diamond triple row frame, per Christie’s. The jewelry piece features 170 round diamonds with an approximate total weight between 1 – 1.50 carats. The single black oval rose cut diamond weighs roughly 2.00 – 2.50 carats, with 28 round black diamonds weighing approximately 0.25 carats. When the ring sold at auction, the jewelry piece realized $11,250 against a high estimate of $5,000.
Rivers’ antique multi-gem and diamond “Prince of Wales” brooch features 58 old cut diamonds. The piece is designed as three cabochon turquoise and seed pearl set gold feathers, gathered by a rose-cut diamond crown and red enamel banner with “ICHDIEN” written in rose-cut diamonds, according to Christie’s. The Prince of Wales feathers were created in the 14th century, becoming one of the most recognizable symbols in the British heraldry. At auction, the brooch realized $10,625 against an estimate high of $7,000.
The gold and citrine necklace from Joan Rivers’ collection features a gold bead choker with seven citrine teardrops, per Christie’s. Although the piece featured a high estimate of $2,000, the necklace realized $9,375 at auction in June 2016.
Other notable highlights from the auction included Rivers’ Aquamarine necklace and earrings set, which realized $8,750 against a high estimate of $3,500, and an assortment of Chanel evening bags, both of which sold at $6,000 against a high estimates of $800 and $500, respectively. A jeweled gold-mounted nephrite photograph frame was the most expensive piece, sold for $245,000 against a high estimate of $60,000.
Joan Rivers’ life and career will be celebrated during NBC’s “Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute” special. The late comic, who died in 2014, began her career as a fashion coordinator in retail before breaking into comedy in the early 1960s, performing in comedy clubs in Chicago and New York. Her big break came in 1965 with an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”